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CNET
5 hours ago
- General
- CNET
Not All Takeout Containers Are Recyclable. Here Are 7 That Don't Go in the Blue Bin
If you want to be a better recycler in 2025, it starts with learning the dos and don'ts. Takeout containers may seem like straightforward candidates for the blue bin but many of them aren't fit to be recycled. A recent Reddit thread we unearthed put on display some general confusion on the matter so we decided to talk to a professional about which takeout containers to recycle and which ones belong in the garbage. From greasy pizza boxes and clamshells to those black plastic containers that permeate the delivery landscape, we've devised this handy guide to takeout container recycling. Read more: Microwave-Free Zone: Expert Cooking Hacks for Leftovers The expert in question is Jeremy Walters, a sustainability ambassador for the second-largest recycling collector in the US, Republic Services. He shared tips to remember and common mistakes to avoid when recycling takeout boxes and containers at home. Here's what you need to know to get the most mileage out of your blue bin habit. How to properly recycle takeout containers Styrofoam containers are a scorch on the environment. If you feel comfortable asking your local takeout spot to stop using them, you probably should. Getty Images 1. Do some recycling research: The most important thing you can do to streamline the process is to find out which containers can and can't be recycled in your specific area. This will likely vary depending on where you live so you'll need to check with your local sanitation department, often via its website. 2. Don't assume it can be recycled: Just because a takeout container has a recycling symbol on it doesn't mean it can be recycled where you live. Some cheaper producers of takeout containers will label something recyclable even if it's not. 3. Give 'em a good rinse: When recycling any takeout containers, make sure they're as clean as possible. Residual food waste, especially grease, can cause a material to become unrecyclable. What follows are general rules and guidelines on which takeout containers can and can't be recycled and how best to recycle them. Read more: Some Blue Apron Meal Kits Are Cheaper Than Buying the Groceries Most black plastic containers are not recyclable. Getty Images These takeout containers can't be recycled Polystyrene foam containers: These foam containers, often referred to as "Styrofoam," are widely used for takeout and delivery, so it's likely you've seen them. Unfortunately, they aren't recyclable and must be thrown out. Black plastic containers: These are another popular choice for restaurants and while they are often made from recycled materials -- making them at least somewhat eco-friendly -- they can't be recycled and must be tossed. According to Walters, recycling plant sorting technology just hasn't caught up to these materials yet. Chinese containers and clamshells: This is another type of container that in theory could be recycled, but because oil often seeps into the cardboard, you're better off throwing them away. Also, many are coated with a sealant that makes them leak-proof and difficult to recycle. Oil-stained pizza boxes: In theory, corrugated cardboard can be recycled but not when it's soaked in oil or caked with cheese. Happy medium: Take the top portion of the box if it's free from oil and recycle that with your cardboard. The bottom half will likely need to be trashed. Plastic bags: Your food is often delivered in plastic bags, but they aren't recyclable and can cause serious harm to your local recycling facilities. To dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them or reuse them. Better yet, don't use them at all and request a paper bag instead. Plastic utensils: Not everything made from plastic is recyclable and recycling plastic utensils is usually dependent on your local facility so check with your service provider. Even better, when you place your order let the restaurant know you don't need any plastic utensils. Soiled paper plates and napkins: These are not recyclable when soiled with food and liquid, so look for reusable, biodegradable or true disposable products instead. Chinese takeout containers mostly can't be recycled. ATU Images/Getty Some cities -- Austin, Texas, for example -- have curbside composting for food-coated paper products. A program like this may not be available in your community but it doesn't hurt to check. And Block Bins, a shared-bin composting startup that launched in Chicago, provides a similar service even if your town or city doesn't. Takeout containers that can be recycled Plastic clamshell containers: Clear plastic takeout containers with a recycling symbol can be recycled. If it's a plastic container labeled No. 1 or No. 2, you can recycle it and should whenever possible. Aluminum containers: You know the ones you can never close as tightly as the restaurant did the first time no matter how much you pinch? Yeah, those are recyclable as long as they're clean. Aluminum containers are recyclable and easy to get clean. Getty Images Paper or cardboard containers: These are often made from recycled materials and can be recycled themselves. Some are even biodegradable and compostable as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and haven't soaked up much grease. Even ones that aren't recyclable are far less toxic than plastic or Styrofoam when being processed, burned or buried. Paper bags: Many restaurants send their orders in large paper bags and those absolutely can and should be recycled or reused. Plastic bags, on the other hand, can't be. Clean paper products: Any paper plates, napkins or cardboard pizza boxes that are not heavily soiled with grease can generally be recycled. What else can you do to help? Your favorite local food joint may not even know about some of the more eco-friendly container options. Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty If you feel comfortable gently letting your local restaurant know you'd appreciate them using one of the many environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic and polystyrene, you should. You could also send a polite, anonymous email saying how much you love the food and service, but that you have one small request on behalf of the Earth. For more green stuff, check out our list of the most environmentally friendly meal kits and find out how to properly recycle metal cans. Yes, pizza boxes can be recycled -- but only the parts without grease.
Reuters
17 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Republic Services posts quarterly revenue below estimates
July 29 (Reuters) - Waste disposal company Republic Services (RSG.N), opens new tab missed analysts' estimates for second-quarter revenue on Tuesday, weighed by weakness in its environmental solutions business. Shares of the company fell 1.5% in extended trading. The Phoenix, Arizona-based company is one of the two publicly traded companies, along with Waste Management (WM.N), opens new tab, that provide garbage collection and disposal services across the U.S. The company's total revenue for the second quarter came at $4.23 billion, compared with analyst expectations of $4.26 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Republic Services saw weak demand for its waste collection and treatment services, with volume growth up just 0.2%. Recycled commodity prices at its recycling centers fell by $24 per ton to $149 per ton, the company said. The company, however, posted an adjusted profit of $1.77 per share for the quarter ended June 30, ahead of the analysts' average expectation of $1.75 per share. The company also said it expects full-year revenue in the range of $16.67 billion to $16.75 billion. Analysts, on average, expected $16.87 billion.
Axios
20 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
It's the summer of strikes in Boston as unions embrace work stoppages
Three notable work stoppages have captured headlines this summer: the Republic Services waste removal strike, Fenway Park vendors' picket and bar advocates walking off the job over a wage dispute. Why it matters: Organized labor in Massachusetts and across the country is more willing to take direct action as the economy fluctuates and the cost of living puts pressure on workers. Driving the news: Multiple unions are taking hardline positions on automation, wages and benefits, potentially influencing future negotiations regionwide. They've been spurred on by successful strikes last year that saw hotel workers win concessions from owners. The hotel workers' local, UNITE HERE Local 26, is the same union behind the Fenway Park action. What they're saying: "Our union members have found courage, even at a time they know it's going to get worse," Greater Boston Labor Council president Darlene Lombos told Axios. Lombos said "there's something special about this moment in history," as economic pressure and federal policies make it harder for working people, yet unions are rallying to support strikes. Lombos said unions are finding "the courage and bravery to step out when we know that things are hard and are going to get harder." Catch up quick: Waste collector Republic Services and the national Teamsters have been at a standoff over wages. That hit home July 1 when 450 local workers went on strike and disrupted normal trash collection for 14 municipalities and countless apartment buildings, restaurants and other businesses. And there's history being made at Fenway Park, but it's not because of the Red Sox. For the first time in the park's 113-year history, concession and restaurant workers struck over the weekend during the Red Sox-Dodgers series before suspending the strike while still in negotiations. Lawyers who defend indigent clients are demanding more pay from the state and walked off the job this summer, leading to hundreds of cases being dismissed because of the lack of representation. The intrigue: Labor tensions are also allegedly at the heart of the Market Basket management fervor, with board members accusing ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas of supporting a worker revolt at his own company of 90-plus New England locations. What's next: The waste collectors, Fenway vendors and bar advocates are all still in negotiations while their work stoppages continue.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waste Management beats quarterly estimates on higher pricing
(Reuters) -Waste Management beat second-quarter profit and revenue estimates on Monday, aided by higher pricing and steady demand for garbage collection and disposal. WM, which collects and transfers trash to company landfills and recycles it into energy, has benefited from the use of automation, cutting labor costs and boosting efficiency. Alongside municipal waste departments, WM and Republic Services are two major companies that lead garbage collection across significant regions of the United States. The company posted a quarterly profit of $1.92 per share, above analysts' average expectations of $1.90 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its total revenue for the quarter ended June 30 came in at $6.43 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $6.36 billion. Shares of the Houston, Texas-based company rose marginally after the bell.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waste Management beats quarterly estimates on higher pricing
(Reuters) -Waste Management beat second-quarter profit and revenue estimates on Monday, aided by higher pricing and steady demand for garbage collection and disposal. WM, which collects and transfers trash to company landfills and recycles it into energy, has benefited from the use of automation, cutting labor costs and boosting efficiency. Alongside municipal waste departments, WM and Republic Services are two major companies that lead garbage collection across significant regions of the United States. The company posted a quarterly profit of $1.92 per share, above analysts' average expectations of $1.90 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its total revenue for the quarter ended June 30 came in at $6.43 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $6.36 billion. Shares of the Houston, Texas-based company rose marginally after the bell. Sign in to access your portfolio
